*The Milky Way’s mysterious gamma ray glow solved
A mysterious gamma-ray glow coming from the centre of the Milky Way is most likely caused by a sea of pulsars. The findings cast doubt on previous ideas that the glow might be evidence of dark matter -- a mysterious invisible substance that accounts for 85 percent of all matter in the universe -- but which has so far evaded detection.

*Gravitationally lensed supernova
Astronomers have discovered their first gravitationally lensed thermonuclear supernova. The new observations provide new ways of studying the accelerating expansion of the Universe due to a mysterious force called dark energy – as well as gravity and distribution of a mysterious substance called dark matter across the cosmos.

*Cassini finds big empty close to Saturn
NASA’s Cassini scientists say the region between Saturn and its rings is relatively dust free. However, the discovery made during Cassini’s first plunge inside the rings has come as somewhat of a surprise.

*SpaceX launches its first spy satellite
SpaceX has successfully launched its first top secret spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office. It was a case of second time lucky for the classified payload after a faulty first stage liquid oxygen temperature sensor detected an anomaly the previous day resulting in the launch being scrubbed. The NROL-76 payload was blasted into orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Centre at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Base in Florida.

The video for the SpaceX launch is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUcNq1PhPQk

For Enhanced Show Notes, including photos to accompany this episode: http://www.bitesz.com/spacetime-show-notes

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